{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T06:23:41Z","timestamp":1787207021042,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787184000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Microbiol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Subthreshold depression (SD) represents a subclinical state between mental health and major depressive disorder (MDD) and is associated with a high prevalence and substantial risk of progression to MDD. Physical activity (PA) has been proposed to exert antidepressant effects through modulation of the gut\u2013brain axis. However, the association between PA level and gut microbiota profiles in individuals with SD remains poorly understood.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      This is a cross-sectional observational study. Stratified random sampling was used to screen full-time undergraduates aged 18\u201325 years at Jimei University for subthreshold depression. Following initial screening with the CES-D and secondary screening with a structured clinical interview, the HAMD-17, and the BDI-II, 122 participants were enrolled. Participants were assigned by IPAQ short form to low (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 46), moderate (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 47), and high (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 29) physical activity groups. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed as maximal oxygen uptake estimated by a submaximal Astrand-Rhyming cycle ergometer test. Fecal samples were subjected to 16S rRNA gene V3\u2013V4 sequencing; \u03b1-diversity, \u03b2-diversity, differential genera, and keystone species were analyzed.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      No significant differences in \u03b1-diversity or \u03b2-diversity were observed among the three PA groups (\n                      <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;gt; 0.05). However, distinct taxonomic signatures were identified. The low-PA group was enriched in potentially pro-inflammatory taxa, including\n                      <jats:italic>Streptococcaceae<\/jats:italic>\n                      and\n                      <jats:italic>Eggerthella<\/jats:italic>\n                      (\n                      <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;lt; 0.05), whereas the moderate-PA group exhibited increased abundance of butyrate-producing genera, including\n                      <jats:italic>Roseburia<\/jats:italic>\n                      and\n                      <jats:italic>Lachnospiraceae_UCG-010<\/jats:italic>\n                      (\n                      <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;lt; 0.05). The high-PA group showed significant enrichment of Dorea (\n                      <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;lt; 0.05).\n                      <jats:italic>Faecalibacterium<\/jats:italic>\n                      exhibited the highest Structural Keystoneness (Ks) within the microbial co-occurrence network, and its relative abundance was positively associated with VO\n                      <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                      max. Moreover, Median (Ks) was strongly correlated with MAD (Ks) (\u03c1 = 0.602,\n                      <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;lt; 0.001), indicating that the ecological importance of high-keystone taxa is highly context dependent.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Although PA level was not significantly associated with overall gut microbial diversity in college students with SD, it was closely associated with the differential distribution of specific functional genera. These findings provide novel evidence supporting the role of PA-related microbial remodeling in SD and may facilitate the development of microbiota-targeted interventions that mimic exercise-induced benefits.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2026.1887394","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T05:27:53Z","timestamp":1787203673000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Association between physical activity level and gut microbiota profiles in individuals with subthreshold depression: a cross-sectional study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Meihua","family":"Su","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Physical Education Institute, Jimei University, Xiamen","place":["Fujian, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiahui","family":"Jin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Physical Education Institute, Jimei University, Xiamen","place":["Fujian, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fengxun","family":"Lin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Physical Education Institute, Jimei University, Xiamen","place":["Fujian, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shihui","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Physical Education Institute, Jimei University, Xiamen","place":["Fujian, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"YingYing","family":"Diao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Physical Education Institute, Jimei University, Xiamen","place":["Fujian, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zange","family":"Lin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Psychological Counseling Center, Jimei University, Xiamen","place":["Fujian, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"43","DOI":"10.1186\/s12970-016-0155-6","article-title":"Exercise-induced stress behavior, gut-microbiota-brain axis and diet: A systematic review for athletes.","volume":"13","author":"Clark","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Int. Soc. Sports Nutr."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"268","DOI":"10.1192\/bjp.bp.113.138784","article-title":"Psychotherapy for subclinical depression: Meta-analysis.","volume":"205","author":"Cuijpers","year":"2014","journal-title":"Br. J. Psychiatry"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1890","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13061890","article-title":"Can physical activity influence human gut microbiota composition independently of diet? A systematic review.","volume":"13","author":"Dorelli","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1095","DOI":"10.1001\/jamapsychiatry.2025.2579","article-title":"Soft drink consumption and depression mediated by gut microbiome alterations.","volume":"82","author":"Edwin Thanarajah","year":"2025","journal-title":"JAMA Psychiatry"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1186\/s40168-016-0189-7","article-title":"Cardiorespiratory fitness as a predictor of intestinal microbial diversity and distinct metagenomic functions.","volume":"4","author":"Estaki","year":"2016","journal-title":"Microbiome"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"11245","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms231911245","article-title":"The microbiota-gut-brain axis in psychiatric disorders.","volume":"23","author":"G\u00f3ralczyk-Bi\u0144kowska","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Mol. Sci."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e01492-17","DOI":"10.1128\/mBio.01492-17","article-title":"Dysbiosis and its discontents.","volume":"8","author":"Hooks","year":"2017","journal-title":"mBio"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.2147\/NDT.S117846","article-title":"Detailed course of depressive symptoms and risk for developing depression in late adolescents with subthreshold depression: A cohort study.","volume":"13","author":"Jinnin","year":"2017","journal-title":"Neuropsychiatr. Dis. Treat."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1265","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms8091265","article-title":"Modulation of gut microbiota in korean navy trainees following a healthy lifestyle change.","volume":"8","author":"Jung","year":"2020","journal-title":"Microorganisms"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajp.2015.05.043","article-title":"Systematic review and meta-analysis of group cognitive behavioural psychotherapy treatment for sub-clinical depression.","volume":"16","author":"Krishna","year":"2015","journal-title":"Asian J. Psychiatry"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104527","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ebiom.2023.104527","article-title":"Gut microbiota and its metabolites in depression: From pathogenesis to treatment.","volume":"90","author":"Liu","year":"2023","journal-title":"EBioMedicine"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3003","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-024-47273-w","article-title":"Immunoregulatory role of the gut microbiota in inflammatory depression.","volume":"15","author":"Liu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"841","DOI":"10.1038\/ismej.2016.176","article-title":"Faecalibacterium prausnitzii: From microbiology to diagnostics and prognostics.","volume":"11","author":"Lopez-Siles","year":"2017","journal-title":"ISME J."},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"220","DOI":"10.1038\/nature11550","article-title":"Diversity, stability and resilience of the human gut microbiota.","volume":"489","author":"Lozupone","year":"2012","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/d41586-025-02633-4","article-title":"Why nurturing the gut microbiota could resolve depression and anxiety.","author":"Makin","year":"2025","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e075847","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj-2023-075847","article-title":"Effect of exercise for depression: Systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.","volume":"384","author":"Noetel","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"862","DOI":"10.1093\/ajcn\/nqac217","article-title":"The human gut microbiota and glucose metabolism: A scoping review of key bacteria and the potential role of SCFAs.","volume":"116","author":"Palmn\u00e4s-B\u00e9dard","year":"2022","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/15622975.2024.2436854","article-title":"Gut microbiome-gut brain axis-depression: Interconnection.","volume":"26","author":"Patel","year":"2025","journal-title":"World J. Biol. Psychiatry"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"550","DOI":"10.1001\/jamapsychiatry.2022.0609","article-title":"Association between physical activity and risk of depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.","volume":"79","author":"Pearce","year":"2022","journal-title":"JAMA psychiatry"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6039","DOI":"10.1007\/s11357-025-01605-w","article-title":"Assessing the gut microbiota composition in older adults: Connections to physical activity and healthy ageing.","volume":"47","author":"Ramos","year":"2025","journal-title":"GeroScience"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-244X-12-181","article-title":"Definitions and factors associated with subthreshold depressive conditions: A systematic review.","volume":"12","author":"Rodr\u00edguez","year":"2012","journal-title":"BMC Psychiatry"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"320","DOI":"10.1038\/s41562-019-0559-9","article-title":"Physical activity and depression.","volume":"3","author":"Sutherland","year":"2019","journal-title":"Nat. Hum. Behav."},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1083","DOI":"10.1186\/s12967-025-07152-4","article-title":"Gut microbiota remodeling and sensory-emotional functional disruption in adolescents with bipolar depression.","volume":"23","author":"Tang","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Transl. Med."},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"115005","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2022.115005","article-title":"Exercise effect on the gut microbiota in young adolescents with subthreshold depression: A randomized psychoeducation-controlled trial.","volume":"319","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res."},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"991","DOI":"10.1249\/01.mss.0000128163.88298.cb","article-title":"Blood volume expansion and cardiorespiratory function: Effects of training modality.","volume":"36","author":"Warburton","year":"2004","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"111130","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brainresbull.2024.111130","article-title":"The effect of exercise on depression and gut microbiota: Possible mechanisms.","volume":"220","author":"Yao","year":"2025","journal-title":"Brain Res. Bull."},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpsychires.2024.03.023","article-title":"The gut microbiome from middle-aged women with depression modulates depressive-like behaviors and plasma fatty acid metabolism in female middle-aged mice.","volume":"173","author":"Yu","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Psychiatr. Res."},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3611","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033291722000241","article-title":"The prevalence and risk of developing major depression among individuals with subthreshold depression in the general population.","volume":"53","author":"Zhang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Psychol. Med."},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1000","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cmet.2024.03.010","article-title":"Gut bacteria-driven homovanillic acid alleviates depression by modulating synaptic integrity.","volume":"36","author":"Zhao","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cell Metab."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Microbiology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmicb.2026.1887394\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T05:27:55Z","timestamp":1787203675000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmicb.2026.1887394\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]]},"references-count":29,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fmicb.2026.1887394"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmicb.2026.1887394","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-302X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-302X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]]},"article-number":"1887394"}}